My Beginnings with Tarot and Kabbalah
My first official tarot reading occurred on Telegraph Avenue in Berkeley, CA in October of 1991. The small blonde woman reading my cards asked me if I already worked with tarot, as she saw in my cards that I would be looking into many aspects of the esoteric mysteries: tarot, astrology, numerology, etc. She mentioned very specifically that I would be delving into Kabbalah, the esoteric/mystical aspect of Judaism.And so as I continued on my path, back home to Santa Barbara and senior year at UCSB. I started to look into these things more deeply, especially Kabbalah. At that time, though, there was literally nothing to be found about Kabbalah in the mainstream. The access to that information had not been opened yet to any but those in a certain realm of knowledge and study and the internet had only just begun - I’m not even sure if Google existed yet!
A Breath of Change...
Several years (a decade or two) later, after Madonna and other celebrities had made the study of Kabbalah trendy, I believe that the door was opened and the time came for the release of what had been protected and kept safe for thousands of years, to become available to the layperson.At that time, I started to look into it again, and as I looked at things I felt myself at a loss. I didn’t really understand, and I decided that in order to study Kabbalah in any respectful and knowledgeable way, I would need to learn the Hebrew language. That appeared to be such a huge undertaking that I let it rest.More recently as I have been working and writing in great depth with the tarot, here in Paradise Found's monthly newsletter, my attention has returned to a place of wonder and discovery around the Hebrew alphabet and the tarot. One of the 22 letters of the Hebrew alphabet appears on each of the 22 major arcana cards in the Sun and Moon Tarot Deck that works with me. But when people would ask me about them I would admit that is the one element of tarot that I have yet to delve into. Well, now is the time and I’ve decided to take you all with me!I’m including astrological aspects with this particular journey as well because it feels like a supportive framework within which to begin the journey at this point in time.
Introducing Qoph
Here, in the beginning of March, we are currently in the astrological sign of Pisces (February 18 – March 20, 2019), which is represented by the Moon, the 18th of the 22 cards in the major arcana. Among the symbols on that card are not only the two fish circling sign of Pisces, but also the 19th of the 22 Hebrew letters, Qoph, which appears at the bottom of that card.
The Meanings of Qoph
“The letter Khof (also spelled Kuf, or Qof) originally meant the back of the head, or the eye of a needle and which also means monkey. It is the symbol of both the sacred Kedushah קדושה, and the profane – the Klipah קליפה, the peel, cover, or husk which represents the negativities in the world. Khof has to do with the requirement of removing the husk of the superficial to reveal the holiness within.In Hebrew, Khof means monkey, a creature which resembles a human but is purely animalistic, with none of the higher capacities of a human. This indicates the requirement for a human to overcome his purely animalistic nature and to emulate the image of the Creator he is made in, to realize his true spiritual nature beyond just the physical. The Khof is the only letter which extends below the line of the other letters, indicating descent into the lower world, but also the ability to ascend from there.Kuf is also הקפה – circle, go around. Khof represents all the cycles of nature, changing seasons, monthly and yearly cycles. It is the constant movement, circulation, and change of life. It could also represent that through the cycles of life that we see – evolution, growth, change, suffering, happiness, life experience – we are constantly worked on in order to evolve and realize our true spiritual nature.” ~www.walkingkabbalah.com Funnily enough, Pisces is actually the final sign in the journey through the zodiac. It is the completion, and on March 20 (Happy Spring Equinox!) the cycle begins again with Aries. And while it might seem odd to begin our journey of the Hebrew letters and the tarot near the end, it is really perfect when you think about it. Especially because on February 19th, just after we entered Pisces, we experienced a Super Full moon in Virgo, which symbolized the release of old habits and patterns that no longer serve us, and the exploration of new ones that do.
Circling Back to the Moon
It feels appropriate to begin this new cycle with the closing of the most recent past cycle. In another article I read that a more arcane, ancient symbol for Qoph was a circle with a horizontal line going though it. This represented the sun at the horizon, and over time it shifted into its current configuration. I wonder if it represented the rising sun or the setting sun? Likely both, as each is an ending and a beginning of its own. It is such a beautiful symbol, this connection between heaven and earth, this reaching up for our spirituality while simultaneously anchoring down in our physical animal bodies.This element of Qoph, for me deepens the elements of the moon. We know the light of the moon is a reflection of the sun, offering us the symbol of reflection in our own lives - reflection of others and of ourselves. As this reflection shifts and changes from full to half, to dark and back again, we have a continual visual symbol to remind us of our own reflections sometimes clear, sometimes hidden, but always shifting and circling back again. On a regular basis what is hidden once again becomes revealed. And the moon’s cycles as it journeys round our planet affect the tides and the waters in our bodies, the ovulation cycles in our female bodies, reminding us on a physical level how connected we are to the rhythms of life. During eclipses the sun, moon, and earth dance in shadow and light, hiding and revealing each other and themselves.
Interpreting the Moon
In the past, when the moon card has appeared in a reading I have seen it as a call from the unconscious to be recognized and brought forth into consciousness. I recommend writing down dreams or keeping a dream journal. But his Qoph brings another element of reflection, of actually connecting, being the conduit between the unconscious and the conscious, the honouring of that reaching and connecting the sacred and the profane, the earthly and the spiritual.During the recent full moon, I reflected powerfully upon my last few relationships and what they have been calling forth in me. I’ve realized that during my journey in search of romantic love I have been asked to acknowledge my own self worth and to rise into that rather than shrink from it. I have realized how what I have expected from love and life was so very little and so much less than what I actually am meant to have. I’ve experienced in many ways, over and over and over again, my higher self, my spirit has had much better plans and expectations for me that my little ego/personality self. And I’ve realized that this has been the case with romantic relationships as well, it’s just been harder for me to release what I have imagined to be control of that aspect in order to allow what wants to flow in.
We are here to rejoice!
I have every confidence that I came to this planet to love, my self and others and to help change the very definition of love. Through the cycles of opening and closing, rooting, sprouting, blooming, seeding and rooting again…the growth process is not a painless one, but it is a worthwhile one. What must a seed feel as it bursts its roots down, or a blossom as it bursts forth! These cycles of birth, life, and death decay and birth are holy and sacred and all around us, all the time. I rejoice in the green hills & new trees springing from recent burn areas.I’m often surprised when people seem to dismiss miracles by explaining the science behind what is happening…just because we can explain the refraction of light through water, does it make it any less of a miracle that rainbows exist and lift our spirits after storms? And just because we can see the evolution of our planet and explain things in a linear/logical way, does it make it any less a miracle that we exists on this beautiful blue green jewel of a planet, the perfect distance from the sun for us to thrive? Just some things I like to reflect upon…Please stop by on March 9th to see if the moon and Qoph have something to reflect and circle around with you…(I’ll be at wedding of one of my former kindergarten students on the 4th Saturday this month, talk about circling round and beautiful reflections!)Many Blessings & More Gratitude,Kristine Marie
